Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-02-27
WITH THE STARS.
THE MOVEMENTS OF THE PRINCIPAL
PLANETS IN MARCH.
Mercury, Uranus, Jupiter, Venus, and
Mars-The Sun and the Noon
vernal Equinox.
Providence Journal. ]

distance from tne sun, anu unucl viz
st favorable conditions that will oc-
cur during the year for being seen with
the naked eye. Intelligent and careful
observers will be sure to find him, and
sight OF the swift-footed planet IS
worth all the trouble it costs. Mercury
sets on the 9Th, an hour and half after
the sun. He must be looked for in the
west, about three quarters OF an hour
after sunset, and will be visible not only
ut bis eastern elongation on the oth,
hut for week before and after that
event though swift of foot and fleet OF
wing, he changes his position at every
reappearance. Observers should note
carefully the point of the horizon
where the sun went down. Mercury
will be found on the 9Th O. north OF that
point, and in q northeast direction from
the sun. Venus will be an excellent
guide in pointing out his position, for
on the 9Th she is less than 50 southeast
of him. An opera-glass, sweeping the
sky northwest of Venus, will be sure
to bring Mercury into the field, and,
his position being thus fixed, he will
be readily visible to the unassisted eye.
The western sky must hecloudless and
the atmosphere clear to make the search
successful.
On the 18th, at 2 o'clock in the morn
ing, Mercury, moving westward, over
takes Mars, also moving westward at a
mich slower pace. The two planets are
in conjunction, Mercury passing A 43
north. They are both too near the sun
to he visible. On the Dist, at o'clock
in the evening, Mercury is in inferior
conjunctions, passing between the earth
and the sun, and appearing on hiswest-
ern side as morning star.
The right ascension of Mercury on
the 1st is 23h. 52m., his deelination is
| g. TO- north, his diameter is g. 1, and
he is in the constellation Pisces.
Mercury sets on the LIST about Z
o'clock in the evening on the 31st he
rises about quarter before 8 o'clock.
URANUS is morning star until the last
day of the month, when he takes his
turn in joining the evening stars. On
the 31st, at 7 o'clock in the morning
he is in opposition with the sun, pass
ing from his western to his eastern side,
and becoming in name what he has
been for two months in reality, an eve
ming star. Uranus, in opposition, is
under the most favorable conditions
for being observed with the naked eye.
He is still pursuing his course among
| the small stars of Virgo, moving
80 slowly that he seems to make
little progress from year to year,
for seven years must complete
their course while he is pass
ing through a single constellation
of the zodiac. Those who desire a
sight Of this distant planet will find
him shining as a star of the sixth mag.
nitude south of q line connecting the
two stars Theta and Gamma Virgins,
about midway between them. As his
course is now retrograde he will ap
proach Gamma Virgins until some
three months hence he will pass the
star. A sharp-sighted observer car
pick up Uranus without help, and al
opera glass will be a sufficient aid for
ordinary observers If, however, one
would see traces of his eliptical form,
the faint markings of his disc, and hii
four satellites a powerful telescope is
required.
The. right ascension of Uranus Oh
the lst is 12h. 44m. his declination is
80 Sc south his diameter is 3."S, and
be is in the constellation Virgo.
Uranus rises on the LIST about s
o'clock in the evening; on the 31st he
sets about half-past o'clock in the
morning.
| VENUS is evening star throughout the
month. The queen of the stars vii
draw q tribute of admiration from every
beholder as she holds her court in th(
western sky during the whole month
growing more lovely with every new
appearance. Those who watch hel
movements will see that she is moving
eastward and northward, that her stay
above the horizon is every evening pro
longed. On the LIST she sets an houl
and half after the sun; on the 3lst
she sets two hours and a quarter after
the sun. She is larger and more bril-
liant because she is approaching the
earth. She sets later every evening be
cause her distance from the sun is in
creasing. Her stay above the horizon
is heightened because she is moyine
noIthward.
The most interesting feature of hel
| appearance in March is her vicinity t,
Melcury. The two planets are at thei
nearest approach on the 9TH, whel
there is only difference of about tif
teen minutes in the time Of setting
Venus remaining longer than he
brother planet above the horizon, an,
about 80 southeast of him. Mercur,
viii be visible for q week before ant
after the 9Th, but viii not be SO nea
| Venus as at that time. Students o
tie stars should improve the opportu
nifty for observing the two inferio
planets under conditions so favorable.
The right ascension of Venus on tn
lst is Oh. 9m., her declination is o. IA
south, her diameter Is 10. "G, and she i
in the constellation Pisces.
| Venus sets on the 1st about a quartz
after 7 o'clock in the evening; on tn,
3lst she sets about half-past o'clock.
| JUPITER is morning star at least h
is so called ON astronomical records, 70
he is still on the western side of tn
sun, although before the month close
he will rise at s o'clock, making his ap
pearance in the east about half an hou
before his rival (Venus) disappears il
the west. Jupiter is a superb object a
now seen in the heavens. His move
ment is retrograde, and he is therefor
approaching Spica, the bright star OF
the west. At the end of the month h
is 12o east of the star At the same tim
his path lies between Lambda and Gu
Virgins, stars of the fourth magni
tude. The brilliant planet is in fin
position for observation as he ap
proaches opposition. Short-sight oil
SEWERS will be able to see his larges
satellite with the unaided eye, and
marine glass will bring the four satel
lites into the field. Jupiter himse
was seen in full daylight by Europea
observers during the months of De
cember and January, his course bein
followed on some mornings from
o'clock until half-past 10 o'clock, HI
appearance being that of tiny
brilliant point. To make the exper
ment successful the atmosphere mus
he clear and the exact position of tb